Belgium&#39;s national holiday on 21 July will be used to mark the 60th anniversary of country&#39;s liberation from the Nazis in September 1944.

As well as the usual celebrations, which take place annually on 21 July, special events are planned to remember how Belgium was liberated from Hitler&#39;s Germany.

Like last year, the celebrations will start on Tuesday night at 8pm with a series of free concerts in Place du Jeu de Balle in the Marolles in Brussels.

The line-up includes accordionist Jos Mommen, Lou and the Hollywood Bananas, Jaune Toujours & Guests and The Magical Flying Thunderbirds.

On Wednesday morning, at 10am, there will be church services, attended by members of the royal family.

The King, the Queen and Queen Fabiola will be present at Sts-Michel-et-Gudule Cathedral, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde will be at Sainte-Waudru Cathedral in Mons and Prince Laurent and Princess Claire will be at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Antwerp at 11.45.

The allied countries, as well as Germany, have been invited to take part in a procession which starts from the Royal Palace at 4 p.m. after an inspection of the troops by the King in Rue de la Loi at 3.30pm.

Several World War Two vehicles are to join the parade.

A party will be geld from 10am to midnight at Place Poelaert and Place Royale in Brussels, with free entertainment planned for all ages.

A military camp from the Liberation is to be recreated at Place Poelaert.

Institutions like the Palais de Justice, the Notre-Dame church at the Sablon, police stations, fire stations, emergency medical centres and newspaper La Libre Belgique are opening their doors to the public throughout 21 July.

The federal parliament opens from 11am to 7pm with entrance at the Place de la Nation side.

Federal museums such as the Musical Instruments Museum, the planetarium and Porte de Hal have special events planned, including guided visits, and are charging visitors just EUR 1 each.

A firework display rounds the day off at the Palais des Academies on the Place des Palais at 11pm.

Yesterday night, members of the royal family attended the special preludium concert. It was a concert given by winners of the queen Elisabeth competition. Anybody who wanted to come and listen was welcome, the entrance was free. It was held at the palais des beaux arts.

Lyonnaise

07-21-2004 08:59 AM

Thanks Cathérine. I actually started this thread so that you could post those photos&#33;&#33;

Cathérine Bergeyck

07-21-2004 09:15 AM

You&#39;re welcome, Lyonnaise :)

I&#39;ll post pictures of the other members at the te deum as well, when I find them.

I saw princess Claire on tv, and her outfit isn&#39;t exactly what I would wear to church...Prepare for a shock :P

lucys

07-21-2004 12:18 PM

Mathilde as always is so lovely. It&#39;s funny what I like so much about her is a trait I don&#39;t generally find attractive, but in her it is so natural and genuine and darling: she is demure.

But what was Paola wearing to the concert? Was it not a bit casual?

Fabiloa--what a lady&#33;

Cathérine Bergeyck

07-21-2004 01:45 PM

10 Attachment(s)

Prince Philippe and princess Mathilde attended a te deum in Mons. Before and after they talked to the people who were standing outside the church.

Catherine you were not Kidding when you said to be prepared for a shock.

Princess Claire :shock: :o

Alisa

07-21-2004 03:18 PM

Great photos Catherine. Thanks for posting them... :flower:

Larzen

07-21-2004 04:34 PM

I love Mathildes outfit very classy, but it looks like she is wearing the same terrible fake earrings that Maxima wore the other day only with a red stone instead of a white(yuck) I hope sha hasn`t got the brooch as well which is even worse, Can we expect Maria Theresa to show up with them as well soon, 3 for the price of 2?

And Claire, I usually like what she wears but I have no words to describe that outfit...

Fabiola looks wonderful.

Humble

07-21-2004 04:41 PM

Mathilde &#39;s hair :shock: too much dying this time :doh:

Beate

07-21-2004 04:51 PM

Claire looks like a walking advertisement for Delft porcelain..:)
I can&#39;t believe her choice of wardrobe. Usually she looks great..

I am not too fond of Mathilde&#39;s outfit but at least it&#39;s acceptable just not my taste.:)

Some of the pictures posted by Catherine did not work for me. One was of 2 men rescuing a cow -- I am not kidding&#33; I don&#39;t think that&#39;s quite Mathilde embracing a child&#33;

Unfortunately the pictures of Claire did work. What in the world was she thinking? Did she get dressed in the dark and accidentally put on her sofa covers?

nouwrein

07-21-2004 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Genevieve@Jul 21st, 2004 - 6:16 pm Some of the pictures posted by Catherine did not work for me. One was of 2 men rescuing a cow -- I am not kidding&#33; I don&#39;t think that&#39;s quite Mathilde embracing a child&#33;

Unfortunately the pictures of Claire did work. What in the world was she thinking? Did she get dressed in the dark and accidentally put on her sofa covers?

:lol: yes I also saw the two wrong photos geneveive. btw, its not a real cow - just a drawing or something :lol: